There is a new option in the Cherry Creek School District this year for students struggling with mental health, anxiety, or severe depression leading to suicidal thoughts.

Traverse Academy is a new school being brought to the district in the fall of 2023.

“We wanted this very unique transition wing, where we could slowly transition students back to their home school, while still bringing them to Traverse in the morning, and helping them acclimate back to their home school,” said Tony Poole, Assistant Superintendent of Special Populations, who had the idea during COVID-19.

“At the time, there were 77 facilities on the front range, where we could try to place students who were in severe crisis and by 2019 those facilities had been cut in half. So we were cut down to 36,” Poole said. “And at that time, we were having a hard time getting students in, and now it’s gotten even worse,”

There were few mental health facilities with open spots, as many were at capacity. As of now, there are barely 13 facilities and none with openings to those who are dealing with a significant mental health crisis.

Traverse will provide treatment for students who are diagnosed with a serious mental illness or exhibit other behaviors such as self harm or violence that are indicators of a mental health challenge.

Traverse Academy aims to lead students through many steps towards bettering their mental health and preparing them to eventually be able to move out of the program and back into their home school. With this goal in mind, the facility has been created so it doesn’t seem like a hospital or a doctor’s office in any way.

“We also wanted to make sure that we had enough things in the building where kids that went here didn’t feel like they were missing out on anything back at their home schools,” Poole said.

Creek’s mental health staff are hopeful that Traverse Academy will help students affected by the mental health crisis.

“We’re all kind of holding our breath, hoping that this is going to be a great thing,” School Psychologist Lisa Geisler said. “I don’t think anyone knows the answer to the crisis we’re having in the country or in the state, so we’re hoping this fills some gaps for us.”